Apparatus for applying travellers and thread onto the rings of spinning and twistingmachines



July 23, 1963 P. RAMSEIER ETAL APPARATUS FOR APPLYING TRAVELLERS AND THREAD ONTO THE RINGS OF SPINNING AND TWISTING MACHINES A [I nn Filed Sept. 18, 1962 PAUL Reuse/m 8:.

BY 7-Rria Hus'lIsL WM (J. m

A TTORNEY United States Patent APPARATUS FOR APPLYING TRAVELLERS AND THREAD ONTO THE RINGS 0F SPINNING AND TWISTING MACHINES Paul Ramseier, Pfaiiikon, Switzerland, and Fritz Austel, Konstanz, Germany, assignors to Briicker AG, Pfaflikon, Switzerland, a corporation of Switzerland Filed Sept. 18, 1962, Ser. No. 224,347 Claims priority, application Switzerland Apr. 11, 1962 18 Claims. (Cl. 57-34) The present invention relates to an improved device for applying travellers to the rings of spinning and twisting machines during simultaneous drawing-in of the yarn or thread.

In known devices in which the applying of the traveller to the ring results by applying a tool fork to the ring flange with a subsequent push-on movement of a movable tongue member arranged on the tool fork, the yarn which extends vertically with respect to the ring is manually brought into engagement with a hook member arranged on the device and is deposited into a guide groove. This is carried out in such a manner that the yarn comes to rest nearly in the plane of the ring beneath the ring flange and in front of the traveller, so that the yarn upon pushing of the traveller onto the ring is engaged by such traveller. In such type of devices the disadvantage results that the yarn must continuously be held in taut condition with one hand, whereas the device for mounting of the travellers is actuated with the other hand, and which is thus very cumbersome.

Accordingly, it is an important object of the present invention to provide a device for mounting of travellers onto traveller rings, which overcomes the disadvantages of known devices and by means of which a facile and quick drawing-in of the yarn can be achieved.

It is another important object of the present invention to provide an improved device for the mounting of travellers onto traveller rings with simultaneous threading of the yarn through the traveller prior to mounting thereof.

Another important object of the present invention is to provide improved apparatus for simultaneously applying a traveller with yarn threaded therethrough onto traveller rings of spinning or twisting machines, which apparatus includes means for initially catching the yarn and holding it in position for engagement by a forwardmost traveller of a stack of travellers, and means for pushing the traveller first such that the yarn is threaded through said forwardmost traveller and then in such threaded condition is mounted onto the ring.

Still another important object of the present invention is to provide an improved device for applying a traveller with yarn seized thereby onto a traveller ring, which device is relatively simple to operate, is compact and relatively light-weight in construction, as well as economical in its manufacture.

Yet another important object of the present invention is to provide an improved device for applying travellers together with yarn engaged thereby onto traveller rings, and is particularly adapted for initially pushing the travellers onto the ring from the inner flange of said ring, so that the tendency for the yarn to rupture is considerably reduced.

The present invention is characterized by the fact that the device exhibits two catch hooks for the yarn or thread, one of which is movable transverse tothe direction of movement of a tongue member, and wherein means are provided for achieving a relative movement between a tool fork and the tongue member, and further means are provided for achieving said transverse movement of the movable catch hook. The entire structure being so constructed and arranged that the transverse movement of the catch hook occurs prior to the relative movement of the tongue member. The device acconding to the present invention is particularly advantageous in that the movements necessary for the drawing-in of the thread into the travellers as well as for the mounting of the travellers onto the spinning ring, can be carried out in a purely mechanical manner Without the necessity of employing further auxiliary means.

Still further objects and the entire scope of applicability of the present invention will become apparent from the detailed description given hereinafter. It should be under stood, however, that the detailed description and specific example, while indicating a preferred embodiment of the invention, is given by way of illustration only, since various changes and modifications within the spirit and scope of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from this detailed description.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a longitudinal sectional View taken through an embodiment of the applicator device designed according to the teachings of the present invention;

FIGURE 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along lines II--II of FIGURE 1; and

FIGURE 3 illustrates the device of FIGURE 1 with the tongue member in displaced position.

Referring now to the drawings and, more particularly, to FIGURES 1-3 thereof, it will be recognized that a tool fork or plate member 1 is rigidly connected with 'an essentially hollow handle 2, which in its normal position of use opens towards the lower end thereof, in a manner best seen by reference to FIGURE 1. In the open-ended, lower portion of the handle 2 there is mounted suitable operating means, which in the desired form illustrated forms a grip and is constructed as a trigger member 3 pivotably mounted about a pivot axis 4. The pivoting of the trigger member 3 is carried out upwardly into the interior of the handle 2 and against the pretension of a spring member 5, the latter of which rests with its one end 6 on a pin 7 arranged at the inner end of the tool fork 1 and with its other end 8 resting against a pin 9 provided for the trigger member 3 and pushing the latter into its lower extreme position as shown in FIGURE 1.

At the inside flat surface of the tool fork or plate memher 1 there is arranged, in essentially parallel relation-ship with respect thereto, a movable tongue member 10 which is rigidly connected to guide pins 11 and 12. The tongue member 10 is guided through the agency of such pins 11 and 12 in guide grooves 13 and 14, respectively, provided for the tool fork 1. It will be appreciated that the guide pins 11, 12 and guide grooves 13, 14 define cooperating guide means for controlling the movement of the tongue member 10 in accordance with the configuration of said guide grooves.

Additionally, the tongue member 10 exhibits a recess or slot 15 at its inner or trailing end 1911, into which a guide rod or lever 16 displaceab'ly extends with its one end 16b, whereas its other end is articulated via a pin 17 to a lever 18 of the trigger member 3. The end 16b of the guide rod 16 which extends into the recess 15 is provided with an elongated slot or recess 19 which extends in the lengthwise or axial direction of the guide rod 16, and through which piercingly extends the guide pin 12 of the tongue member 10. -In this manner there is achieved the possibility that upon upwardly pivoting of the trigger member 3 the guide rod 16, during its first phase of movement, is displaced a distance such that the guide pin 12 is situated 'at the lower marginal edge 19a of the elongated slot 19. Such upward displacement of the guide rod 16 occurs against the pretension of a spring member 16a which rests at one end on the upper frontal face of the guide rod 16 and with its other end resting on the pin member 7 of the tool fork 1.

Approximately in the middle of the device a support member 20 is rigidly connected to the inner surface of the tool fork 1 and transverse with respect thereto. Upon the support member 29 there is mounted a support lug or pin 21 which extends in upward direction, whereby the axis of the support lug or pin 21 extends approximately vertical to the support member 20. About the support lug 21 there is pivotably mounted a catcher hook 22 for pivotal movement which is transverse to the normal direction of movement of the tongue member 10. A cam or dog 24 of the angle lever 18 provides the operative connection between trigger member 3 and catcher hook 22, in that the cam 24 extends up to the plane of the catcher hook 22 and a spring member 23 presses the catcher hook 22 against the cam 24, as FIGURE 2 more specifically illustrates.

For the receipt of a number of travellers a supply rod or shaft 25 is arranged at the outer side surface of the tool fork 1 which extends out of the forward end 2a of the handle 2, with said supply rod extending laterally of the direction of movement of the tongue member 10. A number of travellers 26 can be pushed onto the supply rod 25, in a manner as best seen by reference to FIG- URE 2. The displacement of the stack of travellers 26 in the direction of the tool fork 1 is achieved through the intermediary of a feed arm or slider 27 which is resiliently mounted on a guide tube 28 serving as a slide rod for the feed arm 27, with said guide tube 28 being arranged parallel to the supply rod 25. It will be appreciated that the aforedescribed arrangement provides means for supplying one or more travellers 26 in the direction of the tool fork 1.

On the side of the tongue member which faces away from the supply rod 25 there is provided a stop member 29 against which always abuts the forwardmost traveller which is to be applied to the spinning ring 30. In order to adjust the device so that it can accommodate travellers of different widths the stop member 29 is mounted for adjustment transverse to the tongue member 10 by means of an adjusting nut 31, the threaded journal of which is rigidly connected with the tongue member 10, whereby the stop member 29 braces itself against a spring member 32. In addition thereto, the stop member 29 exhibits a hook-shaped shoulder or projection 33 which forms a catcher hook which is stationary relative to the tongue member 10. Adjustment devices of the type here mentioned and suitable for permitting accommodation of travellers of various widths are already known to the art. For example, in United States Patent 2,953,845, granted September 27, 1960, a device suitable for such purpose has been disclosed.

For the application of a traveller onto the spinning ring 30 the thread or yarn (not shown), which for example extends vertically fr-om the drafting system of the spinning machine, is next seized by the catcher book 33 and the device is applied to the spinning ring 30. For this purpose the tool fork 1 is provided at its free end 10, which extends out of the forward end 2a of the handle 2, with a recess 34, by means of which the device can rest against the flange 30a of the ring member 30. In this position of application of the device to the spinning ring 30, the foremost traveller 26a which rests against the stop member 29 is essentially located in a position toward the center of the ring 30 and is offset above the ring flange as best seen by reference to FIGURE 1. For the mounting or pushingon of this traveller to the ring 30 the trigger member 3, of the handle 2 which is spanned with one hand, is then drawn or pushed into the hollow portion of the handle 2. As a result there is then achieved in a first phase of movement of the cam member 24 of the angle lever 18, through whose pivotable movement the cam member 24 is moved towards the ring member 30, a displacement of the movable catcher hook 22 transverse to the direction of movement of the tongue member 10, as such is represented by the phantom lines illustrated in FIGURE 2.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention there is provided at the cam member 24 an inclined surface 35, and at the catcher hook 22 an inclined surface 36, which surfaces upon actuation of the trigger member 3 cooperate with one another and facilitate displacement or movement of the catcher hook 22. By virtue of the relative movement between the two catcher hooks 22 and 33, the yarn held by the catcher hook 33 is received by the movable catcher hook 22 and then tensioned or drawn transversely in front of the foremost traveller 26a situated in its traveller applying position, and thereby is threaded through the provided traveller opening.

If the trigger member 3 is further pressed into the handle 2 then the guide rod 16, which in its previously executed range of movement has come to rest with its lower boundary surface or marginal edge 19a of its elongated slot 19 lying against the 'guide pin 12 of the tongue member 10 without such tongue member being moved thereby, is further upwardly displaced. Consequently, the guide pin 12 which is rigidly arranged on the tongue member 10 is displaced upwardly in the guide recess or slot 14 of the stationary tool fork 1, and corresponding to the formation of the guide slot 14 moves approximately vertically, whereby the tongue member 10 pivots about the guide pin 11. As a result, the free end of the tongue member 10 tilts downwardly and grasps the foremost traveller 26a which is in its traveller applying position (see FIGURE 1) through the intermediary of a hookshaped construction or recess 37 provided in the tongue member 10, and separates such traveller from the stack of travellers. In carrying out a further movement of the trigger member 3, the guide pins 11 and 12 are rearwardly deflected in accordance with the inclination of the guide slots 13 and 14, whereby the tongue member 10 has imparted thereto a translational movement, and indeed rearwardly into an end position, as is more clearly to be seen by reference to FIGURE 3. As a result of this rearward movement of the tongue member 10, the foremost traveller 26a resting against the stop member 29 is pushed onto the flange 30a of the ring 30 through the agency of the hookshaped construction 37 appearing at the free end of the tongue member 10, whereby the yarn remains threaded through such applied traveller.

After successful application of the traveller 26a onto the ring 30, the trigger member 3 is released by opening the hand which spans the handle 2 of the applicator device, said trigger member 3 being then downwardly displaced out of the handle 2 under the influence of the spring mem her 5. As a result, the tongue member 10 is thereafter moved out of its rearward position towards the front of the device back into its initial or rest position; and finally, the movable catcher hook 22 is likewise pivoted back into its starting position under the influence of the spring member 23, whereby the yarn slips out of the stationary catcher hook 33. Now, it is possible to remove the applicator device from contact with the spinning ring 30.

An advantage of the previously described construction resides in the fact that the traveller is pushed onto the traveller ring from the inside toward the outside, whereby the device after seizing the yarn can be applied in the shortest path of travel to the ring. It is to be appreciated, however, that it is also possible to construct the device such that the pushing of the traveller onto the ring can occur from the outside towards the inside thereof. b Naturally, it would also be possible to obtain a relative movement between the tool fork and tongue member and the transverse movement of the movable catcher book without employing the trigger member. Such can be achieved for example by displacing a hand grip displaceably mounted on the tool fork, whereby the displacement during mounting of a traveller onto the spinning ring can take place in the thrust direction or pulling direction, depending upon whether the traveller must be pressed onto the ring from the inside or the outside thereof.

Having thus described the nature of the present invention, what is desired to be secured by United States Letters Patent, is:

1. Apparatus for applying travellers to the rings of spinning and twisting machines with simultaneous drawing-in of the yarn through the traveller to be applied; comprising a tool fork which is adapted to be placed onto said ring, a tongue member supported for movement relative to said tool fork for pushing a traveller onto said ring, a pair of catcher hooks for the yarn, one of said catcher hooks being mounted for movement transverse to the direction of movement of said tongue member, means for producing a relative movement between said tool fork and said tongue member, and means for producing a transverse movement of said movable catcher hook, said movement producing means for said tongue member and said movable catcher hook being constructed and arranged in such a manner that the transverse movement of the catcher hook takes place prior to the relative movement of said tongue member.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1; including a handle for supporting said tool fork, an operating member secured to said handle, said operating member being operatively connected with said tongue member and said movable catcher hook, said operating member in a first range of movement thereof being operative upon said movable catcher hook and in a second range of movement of said operating member being operative upon said tongue member.

3. Apparatus according to claim 2; wherein said operating member is a trigger pivotably connected to said handle.

4. Apparatus according to claim 2; wherein said tool fork is provided with slot means and said tongue member is provided with pin means engaging said slot means to permit said relative movement between said tongue member and said tool fork, at least one of said pin means being operably connected with said operating member.

5. Apparatus according to claim 2.; wherein said movement producing means for said catcher hook comprises a cam member actuatable from said operating member to pivot said movable catcher hook in the transverse direction.

6. Apparatus according to claim 4; wherein said movement producing means for said tongue member comprises a guide lever provided with recess means cooperating with said one pin means.

7. Apparatus according to claim 1; wherein said pair of catcher hooks are so positioned with respect to one another than said movable catcher hook draws said yarn through the mouth of the foremost traveller to be applied to said ring.

8. Apparatus according to claim 7; wherein the other of said catcher books is fixedly connected to said tongue member.

9. Apparatus according to claim 1; wherein a connecting line taken through said pair of catcher hooks, with said movable catcher hook in displaced position, passes through the foremost traveller of a stack of travellers positioned for application onto said ring.

10. In a device for applying travellers to a traveller ring with yarn engaged by the traveller to be applied; the improvement of means for drawing-in the yarn through a traveller and applying such traveller together with the yarn to a traveller ring, which means comprises: a tool fork adapted to be placed against said ring, a tongue member supported for movement relative to said tool fork for applying travellers to said ring, yarn catcher means mounted for movement to seize said yarn, and operating means operatively connected with said yarn catcher means and said tongue member, which in a first phase of movement of said operating means causes said yarn catcher 6 means to grasp said yarn and to draw the same through the mouth of a traveller to be applied to said ring, and in a subsequent phase of movement of said operating means causes said traveller to be applied together with the yarn to said ring.

11. A device for applying travellers to the rings of spinning and twisting machines with the yarn engaged by the traveller to be applied, comprising a tool fork adapted to be placed upon said ring, a tongue member, means for guiding said tongue member for movement relative to said tool fork, catcher hook means supported for movement for engagement with the yarn, operating means cooperating with said guide means and said catcher hook means to initially carry out a yarn seizing movement of said catcher hook means and engaging a traveller with the yarn seized by said catcher hook means, and then a successive movement of said tongue member for applying such traveller together with the yarn onto said ring.

12. A device for applying travellers to the rings of spinning and twisting machines with the yarn engaged by the traveller to be applied according to claim 11; said guiding means comprising cooperating guide pin means and guide slot means.

13. A device for applying travellers to the rings of spinning and twisting machines with the yarn engaged by the traveller to be applied according to claim 12; wherein said guide pin means are carried by said tongue member and said tool fork is provided with said guide slot means.

14. A device for applying travellers to the rings of spinning and twisting machines 'with the yarn engaged by the traveller to be applied according to claim 13; wherein said operating means includes a cam member for causing said yarn seizing movement of said catcher hook means.

15. A device for applying travellers to the rings of spinning and twisting machines with the yarn engaged by the traveller to be applied according to claim 14; wherein said operating means further includes a guide lever cooperating with at least one of said guide pin means for causing said relative movement of said tongue member.

16 A device for applying travellers to the rings of spinning and twisting machines with the yarn engaged by the traveller to be applied according to claim 15; wherein said guide lever is provided with a guide slot dimensioned and arranged with respect to said one guide pin means such that initial movement of said operating means only actuates said catcher hook means and thereafter moves said tongue member.

17. A device for applying travellers to the rings of spinning and twisting machines with the yarn engaged by the traveller to be applied according to claim 16; wherein a further catcher hook means is provided for said device.

18. A device for applying travellers to the rings of spinning and twisting machines with the yarn engaged by the traveller to be applied according to claim [17; wherein said further catcher hook means is operably connected with said tongue member.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,749,601 Rouillon June 12, 1956 2,953,845 Ramseier Sept. 27, 1960 3,054,248 Austel Sept. 18, 1962 FOREIGN PATENTS 1,028,919 Germany Apr. 24, 1958 1,118,665 Germany Nov. 30, 1961 

1. APPARATUS FOR APPLYING TRAVELLERS TO THE RINGS OF SPINNING AND TWISTING MACHINES WITH SIMULTANEOUS DRAWING-IN OF THE YARN THROUGH THE TRAVELLER TO BE APPLIED; COMPRISING A TOOK FORK WHICH IS ADAPTED TO BE PLACED ONTO SAID RING, A TONGUE MEMBER SUPPORTED TO MOVEMENT RELATTIVE TO SAID TOOL FORK FOR PUSHING A TRAVELLER ONTO SAID RING, A PAIR OF CATCHER HOOKS FOR THE YARN ONE OF SAID CATCHER HOOKS BEING MOUNTED FOR MOVEMENT TRANSVERSE TO THE DIRECTION OF MOVEMENT OF SAID TONGUE MEMBER, MEANS FOR PRODUCING A RELATIVE MOVEMENT BETWEEN SAID TOOL FORK AND SAID TONGUE MEMBER, AND MEANS FOR PRODUCING A TRANSVERSE MOVEMENT OF SAID MOVABLE CATCHER HOOK, SAID MOVEMENT PRODUCING MEANS FOR SAID TONGUE MEMBER AND SAID MOVABLE CATCH HOOK BEING CONSTRUCTED AND ARRANGED IN SUCH A MANNER THAT THE TRANSVERSE MOVEMENT OF THE CATCHER HOOK TAKES PLACE PRIOR TO THE RELATIVE MOVEMENT OF SAID TONGUE MEMBER. 